Gregg Moore is a superior talker: He talked his way into proudly owning 69-calendar year-previous Lake Forest Flooring, obtaining the developing it occupies and encompassing himself with faithful customers and a veteran workers.
None of that was prepared.
Moore is a normal salesman who has spent 25 yrs selling flooring, fortunately speaking about his items and constructing associations.
He started out in 1996 with a business that sold unfinished hardwood. In 2000, he joined Mohawk flooring firm as a product sales consultant. For 14 many years, Moore identified as on shops throughout the Upstate and into North Carolina.
That’s when one particular client, Martha Woods, grew to become a pal, and issues took an surprising transform.
Woods had taken about Lake Forest Carpet (now Lake Forest Flooring) from her father, Carl Summey, who launched the keep in 1952 in the exact place wherever it stands currently, 1334 N Pleasantburg Dr.
Moore vividly remembers their dialogue in 2013. “Martha mentioned, ‘Gregg, I’m heading to promote my shop, and I want you to acquire it.’”
He wished her perfectly, then firmly declined.
Moore turned her down again a month later. But she was undeterred. “The Lord set your identify on my coronary heart,” she told him. “You’re heading to acquire my retailer. Go residence and talk to your wife, pray about it, and see what takes place.
“After a couple of months of praying … That is how we received this retail outlet. This place will be 70 years old in 2022,” states Moore, who was born and reared in Greer and owns a dwelling in Taylors with his wife, Mitzi.
Mitzi’s view? “She was all for it.”
Moore formally obtained the enterprise a several months afterwards. Later, he purchased his making and the one following to it when his 96-12 months-aged landlord died.
Now, he works by using his present of gab and knowledge about flooring to serve shoppers.
“Our enterprise is generational. People today arrive in mainly because their terrific-grandparents purchased flooring from us in the ’50s, and their grandparents purchased, their mom and father purchased, and now they are purchasing.”
The retail store – portion of a strip of stores throughout from Bob Jones University and substantially greater than it appears – carries ceramic tile, hardwood, laminate, luxurious vinyl plank, carpet and spot rugs.
Flooring has altered a lot via the years.
Luxurious vinyl plank is the trendiest product, Moore suggests. “LVP is quite sizzling.” It is simple to maintain, comes in lots of textures and colors, and can be eliminated effortlessly when house owners want a transform. It’s also sturdy and resistant to scratches and h2o (nevertheless not scratch-evidence or flood-proof, Moore cautions).
Laminate, well-known in the mid-1990s, is generating a comeback, he states. “Laminate is a challenging product.”
Carpet is also preferred and has been engineered to be far more strong. “These days, it can be pet-friendly, little one-evidence, and wine-evidence. Carpet has occur a lengthy way in 20 many years.”
Hardwood floors are nevertheless most preferred. “Most residences we do are tough surface. They’re timeless, resilient, and can be refinished numerous moments.”
The fallout from COVID-19 has produced selections hard. “Everything has absent up in value,” Moore says. “My sellers give me five days on the cost of wooden. It goes up weekly.”
Luxurious vinyl plank now fees about 20% additional, he states, because the solution is built in China, Cambodia or Vietnam. Carpet manufacturing was affected when the mills were understaffed, and padding is also in brief source.
Shipping may be the major difficulty, Moore states. “Some products and solutions are a few months out.”
Even with the hurdles, business has been regular since March, he claims. “Walk-in traffic has been great. We’re grateful. It was tough very last calendar year. We survived, but it was challenging.”
For Moore, Lake Forest Flooring is about provider.
“We are over-the-top welcoming. Men and women like that. They figure out that,” he suggests.
Maye-Webb McCauley, a full-time inside designer, can assist clientele match flooring or carpet to paint and fabric colors, or even support place a complete space jointly.
The dimensions of the position doesn’t issue, Moore suggests. “We’ll get the job done on the tiny bathroom, or we’ll do the complete property. If we do one particular bedroom, commonly a little something else arrives later on. Repeat company is how we keep in company.”
Moore also understands that making flooring conclusions is hard. He remembers hearing that customers store at 4 or five shops in advance of making a order.
“The exact man or woman will obtain a car or truck in three hrs,” he claims. “You acquire a car perhaps two instances in 10 decades. You acquire floor masking as soon as or twice in a lifetime.”
That is where Moore’s workers can aid. “Lake Forest is different due to the fact our staff is educated and personable,” he says.
McCauley joined the keep months just after Moore purchased it he knew her from his days at Mohawk. “I realized she experienced a expertise,” he claims.
Patty Byars began working portion time when Moore wooed her away from retirement. She is knowledgeable in structure and flooring and has labored at various suppliers in the area. Joan Hall was also retired when she agreed to take on a couple hours a week.
Most senior of all, Mark Epps predates Moore. He labored total-time at Lake Forest for 40 years. Now, he works just one day a week, typically.
That practical experience adds up: Moore’s 25 decades, McCauley with 25-as well as, Byars has about 28, and Epps and Hall have 40 many years each – almost 160 full decades in the flooring enterprise.
The Moores’ kids enable, as well.
Their daughter, Jenna – Director of Revenue and General public Relations at Stop by Johnson Metropolis, Tennessee – allows with social media. Their son, Josh, is in genuine estate but tends to make deliveries, watches more than the retail store, or delivers organization guidance when wanted.
Moore is also proud of his subcontractors. 1 team does wood ground refinishing. Many others do installation.
“My finish guy has been below 30 many years. He did my home, 20-a thing many years back. It usually means a little something to be in a position to preserve people today functioning for you for that extensive,” he says.
Planned or not, Moore is contented with his choice to own a company. “I like it. It’s tough. Previous calendar year was really demanding. But we arrived by way of it. We retained going. It is been a fantastic 8 several years. And we seem forward to serving the Upstate for several years to appear.”